Loading
Is Zed Worth It in 2026? Our Honest Verdict
Fastest Code Editor
Zed: The fastest code editor available, period.
Rating★ 4.4/5
Starting priceFree
Best forDevelopers who prioritize editor speed a
CategoryDeveloper Tools
Who Zed Is Worth It For
- ✓Developers who prioritize editor speed and want native multiplayer collaboration
- ✓Noticeably faster than VS Code or Cursor due to GPU acceleration
- ✓Native real-time multiplayer for pair programming
- ✓Fully open source and free to use
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- ✕Not ideal for users who rely heavily on vs code extensions — zed ecosystem is still growing
- ✕Extension ecosystem much smaller than VS Code
- ✕AI capabilities less mature than Cursor or Windsurf
- ✕Some languages have limited LSP support
Is Zed Pricing Fair?
| Tier | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Yes (fully open source) |
| Starter | Free |
| Pro | Pay-as-you-go AI (optional) |
| Enterprise | Custom |
Pricing verified March 2026.
How Zed Compares
| Zed | Dify | AssemblyAI | Clerk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $59/mo | $0.37/hour | $25/mo |
| Rating | ★ 4.4 | ★ 4.9 | ★ 4.9 | ★ 4.9 |
| Verdict | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | |
| Free Tier |
AICores Verdict on Zed
The fastest code editor available, period. GPU-accelerated rendering and Rust internals make it noticeably snappier than VS Code or Cursor. The multiplayer feature is genuinely useful for pair programming. Extension ecosystem is the main gap.
AICores Editorial Review
Reviewed by AICores Editorial Team
Last updated: May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zed worth the money?▼
The fastest code editor available, period. GPU-accelerated rendering and Rust internals make it noticeably snappier than VS Code or Cursor. The multiplayer feature is genuinely useful for pair programming.
Is there a free version of Zed?▼
Yes, Zed offers a free tier. Paid plans start at Free and include additional features and capacity.
What are the best alternatives to Zed?▼
Dify, AssemblyAI, Clerk are the top alternatives. Dify is best for teams building llm-powered applications who want a visual development platform and has a 4.9 star rating.
Who should NOT use Zed?▼
Zed is not ideal for users who rely heavily on vs code extensions — zed ecosystem is still growing. Common drawbacks include: Extension ecosystem much smaller than VS Code. AI capabilities less mature than Cursor or Windsurf.